Entreleadership: Are You Suffering From Small-Business Burnout?

With all the responsibilities and demands a small-business owner faces each day, a bit of stress is just a natural part of the job. And that’s not always a bad thing. It can fire you up and keep you going. But what happens when stress becomes a major part of your day? It can lead to job burnout—an extreme level of stress that causes physical, mental or emotional exhaustion, according to the Mayo Clinic.

So how do you know if you are heading toward burnout? Here’s a test to help you find out. If you answer yes to any of the statements below, it just might be time for a change.

No one knows how to do their job right. You have to do it all.

Reality: One of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make is trying to handle everything, which wears them down and stresses them out. As soon as possible, get competent team leaders in place who can help you, then train them and let them fly. Even if they handle just a percentage of your responsibilities, you’ll be amazed at how your schedule will open up, allowing you to work on your business instead of in it. As Dave says, “By delegating, you’ll feel a new level of freedom you have never felt before.”

The last time you took a day off was to celebrate the new millennium.

Reality: If you don’t take a break, your body will make you. Studies show that women who took a vacation less than once every six years were eight times more likely to develop coronary heart disease. Research also shows men who missed out on annual breaks were 32% more likely to die of heart attacks and had a 21% higher risk of death from all causes.

Take taking a vacation one of your goals. Besides the health benefits, a break from work is proven to re-energize and spark creativity. Keep in mind that in order for a goal to work—even a vacation goal—it has to be:

Specific

Measureable

Have a time limit

Yours

In writing

Once your goal is finalized, get it on the calendar and start making plans.

Used with permission from daveramsey.com
To learn more about business, team building and leadership, download Dave Ramsey’s EntreLeadership podcasts, which include lessons from Dave plus interviews with key business leaders from across the nation.